Hunt ID: 5025-S-C-1495-ElkMDeer-CO-421-RANCO5LLB-CR1L-LA1NA-Great Lodge and Elk
Colorado warm falls and lack of the traditional elk migration has changed a lot of hunters into looking for other options. The elk migration hunts require you wait at lower altitudes for the snow to push the elk down to the lower altitudes where the access is better and the trees are fewer. Many of the places elk winter are treeless rolling sage brush hills with high elk concentration holding herds of 100 to 1000 elk is not unusual. The harvest rate skyrockets and you can many times drive right up to the location that you put down your elk and after gutting 4-5 men can load it whole in the back of your truck. That is all great and worked for years as the norm for late season migration hunts.
After 3 years of diminishing elk winter migrations or migrations after the end of the season many are saying, I am going to go hunt where the elk are instead of waiting for them to come to me! To do that we must focus where the elk spend their summer and fall on warm years. The last three have not been the only ones, I remember in my last 40 or so years pursuing elk wherever they were hiding I do remember some warm years but never 3 in a row, the likes of these last years. Will this year go back to normal, be an overload like what came in December after the seasons were over? Yes, even the weatherman doesn’t know but it may be time for a change.
I searched for an area that provided good access to where the elk were but being greedy I want to be in an area that no one could get to except for me a 1 or 2 buddies. It would need some altitude and realizing that way they are there elk are very scattered and so there won’t be any mass herds of 100 plus but then again, I just need 2 or 3 bulls, and if it is remote enough I will have the areas concertation to ourselves. I wanted an area that I could draw a bull elk license besides just a 2nd and 3rd over the counter license.
I may be asking a lot for deer licenses being easy to draw, because in that habitat if we see deer they will be big timber buck loners like ones you see when you are elk hunting in good elk country. My primary target and the other guys target will be elk. The Deer vouchers are about gone for the area but it really shines for elk.
I found it in Colorado’s GMU421 in and area around Colburn Colorado. This area is well known for its elk and deer population and quality. Because of this it has a reputation for bucks and bulls alike. The only access is from the bottom of the mountain and you must cross private land to get there. This is good to keep the competition from being in my area and trying to find a big bull with a low IQ in my area.
There is a small cabin but I have convinced the landowner to also put up a deluxe tend in a drop camp configuration, cots and the like. The cabin has propane and water but is not big enough for the 3 of us and our gear. The tent “Drop Camp” provides everything that the small cabin doesn’t.
This is a semi-guided hunt in that you will be taken to a pre setup drop camp facility, with an 8x8 cabin that has propane, and water facilities. It is not big enough to be called lodging so the tent is provided for you sleeping and gear for up to 3 people. Non-hunting guests can come at a small fee if the lodging can be worked out. Your access is guaranteed by the same landowner from the low grounds via ATV side by side along with bringing down your elk. You can bring your own ATV if you would like to be more independent. Riding the ATV on the forest property is not recommended because of the spooking of the elk and deer and you would need an ATV permit available at the parks office in Grand Junction. All hunting you will be doing without a guide but the guide will provide hunt details to use at your own discretion.
This Semi-Guided Hunt is $ 2500 per hunter. I have worked with the owner and gotten him to accept $1495 for this year since it is coming out late, during this month when license applications need to be applied for in the Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Even though, I, Greg, Discounted hunts llc always applies for the licenses for all my hunters that need license applications. If you want to shoot a second animal, deer or a cow elk it is only $300 and you must have the license in your pocket.
I am afraid to say but will assume that next year, 2018 the price of this hunt will go up in price. If you would like to book it for 2019 during 2018 for only $ 200 security deposit per person it will hold the price for this hunt for your group only, at the $ 1495 price and your $ 200 will of course go toward that 2018 hunt.
Animal Quality
The cabin, along with the tent being put up this year has not been hunted for years. Because of that I can’t give accurate success rates except for GMU421 which waters everything down by adding the large number of hunters on public ground down at the bottom of the mountain that is very much over hunted. One thing they do though is to push them back up to where you are but the climb prevents them from following the deer and elk.

Hunting Location & Licenses
Species Best Seasons GMU # Licenses Area
Elk Archery, 1st, 2nd and 3rd possibly snowed in by 4th GMU024 Archery along with 2nd and 3rd seasons are OTC. 1st and 4th are a 99% draw, some left overs, and Muzzleloader requires 2 points to draw. GMU421
National Forest @ 10,000 feet
Deer Archery, 1st, 2nd and 3rd. As a rule they have migrated most years by 4th season. GMU024 Drawing with one preference point guaranteed GMU421
National Forest @ 10,000 feet

Semi-Guided/DIY Hunt Pricing
The cabin and tent camp are located on the back side of private property preventing access to where you are located. You are hunting national forest in an area that others would have to walk miles and miles up hill to get where you are located.
Hunt Type Species Season Cost Party Size Min/Max Days Total / Hunting Vouchers Available Impact level
DIY Elk, Mule Deer All $1495 2 / 3 5 / 5 Your choice

OTC License = Over the Counter
Hunt does not include: Licenses, food, guiding, field care of game, game pack out except from Cabin area.
Additional options: Extra days are available for the 2nd, 3, archery and muzzleloader seasons but the 1st and 4th are only 5 days long. The price is prorated from the total of 5 days divided by 5 for a daily cost.
Notes: You can bring ATV’s to get up through the private land or the landowner will take you up in there on his. Bringing your own is recommended but not required.
Recommendations:
This is not recommended for the 1st time elk hunters. It is terrific elk hunting country but you will need to hunt without guidance on elk that may be 4-8 years old. Because of the location any size bull is possible since elk pass through this area daily 9 months out of the year from many other areas.

Archery Season Go in on Sunday and come out on a Saturday (Break between 2 groups)
5 day hunt with 1 day (Saturday) in and 1 day (Sunday) out (season start 8/26)
Season Dates are as follows:
Sunday Saturday
1st week 08/26-09/02 Archery*
2st Week 09/03-09/09 Archery
3nd week 09/10-09/16 Muzzleloader/Archery
4th week 09/17-09/24 Archery*

• Note: Because season dates and the days of the week don’t align perfectly so the First week has a 1 day earlier and the last week has 1 extra day on the end.

1st Season 10/14--18
2nd Season 10/21-29
3rd Season 11/04-12
4th Season 11/15-19

*All prices include a 25-cent search-and-rescue fee, a 75-cent surcharge for the Wildlife Management Education Fund and a $3 application fee for limited licenses applied for in the draw. *Nonresident fishing licenses are good through March 31.
Habitat Stamps
(non-refundable)
Resident
Nonresident

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